A mottled duck cruises effortlessly across Bridlewood Pond in Calgary, its sleek, earthy-toned plumage blending seamlessly with the reflections of reeds, cattails, and winter grasses along the shoreline. Each gentle paddle of its webbed feet sends soft ripples across the glassy surface, distorting the mirrored image of the surrounding trees and the duck itself, creating a serene, almost painterly scene. The mottled feathers, a mix of warm browns, subtle creams, and hints of darker chocolate, provide perfect camouflage against the muted winter landscape, while the duck’s bright, alert eyes scan the water ahead for small insects, seeds, or submerged vegetation. Occasionally, the duck dips its bill beneath the surface, sending concentric circles outward that expand slowly across the pond, momentarily disturbing the calm reflections. Along the water’s edge, slender cattails bend under the weight of frost, their golden-brown stalks and feathery tops providing both a visual frame and a natural habitat for local wildlife. The air is crisp, carrying the faint scent of wet earth and pine from nearby trees, and the soft sounds of winter waterfowl—quiet quacks, distant splashes—blend into the stillness, giving the scene a peaceful rhythm. Sunlight, low on the horizon, glances off the duck’s wet feathers, highlighting subtle variations in color and texture, and adding warmth to the cool tones of the water. Watching a mottled duck cruise across Bridlewood Pond is a study in calm, careful movement, an intimate glimpse of nature’s quiet grace in Calgary’s urban wetlands.